A/N: Sorry for the slightly late update guys… I had a friend over for a couple of days, so I didn't even touch my PC for a couple of days… shudders I didn't even get to play FF7 (my latest addiction).
Comments on your reviews and on this chapter will be found in my journal as usual.
Enjoy!
Last chapter summary: Galbadian forces take over Balamb and our heroes rush to the rescue and into an exhausting fight…
A second chance
By: Sickness in Salvation
Chapter 23: Orphanage memories
Seifer lay into a bath tub filled with hot water. He had his eyes closed and was enjoying the warm water as it relaxed each and every one of his sore muscles.
He let out a moan of pleasure as a pair of hands massaged his shoulders in firm, circular moves. A pair of slender legs was engulfing his waist and his back lay against a warm feminine body.
"You were so brave today…" came Quistis's soft voice "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have made it…"
Seifer shrugged nonchalantly.
"Don't be ridiculous… It was a piece of cake…" he said, voice almost bored.
"You're fearless…" Quistis said with admiration.
"Sure, whatever… Could you rub my back a bit?" he asked.
"Anything for my valiant Knight…" Quistis replied, kissing him on the neck.
Seifer grinned, content and tilted his head to the side, enjoying his massage.
Seifer raised his head from his pillow, slowly opening his eyes. He squinted from the bright sunlight that was illuminating his room and, with a sigh, fell back onto bed. He winced as his sore ribs made contact with the mattress. He rolled over cautiously and crossed his arms behind his head 'Dammit… Those dreams have to stop.' he thought, yawning. It didn't do him any good to picture Quistis like that, since she'd made it clear that she felt nothing. At least, that what he thought she meant. Whichever the case was though, it wasn't pleasant to wake up every morning and find his bedside empty after such vivid dreams.
He slowly got up from bed, groaning and clutching his broken ribs with one palm. Yep, Dr. Kadowaki had confirmed it the previous afternoon. A report about seven broken ribs now adorned Seifer Almasy's already long medical record, which included other reports about fractures that more or less referred to every bone in his body. Any fracture that couldn't be considered lethal anyway. He honestly couldn't remember a year in Garden where he didn't break at least three bones, didn't crack his nose -and other people's noses while we're at it- open or didn't get a minor scar. His 'joy and pride' however, was the deep, thin scar that ran across his lower forehead and ended at the bridge of his nose, courtesy of Squall Leonhart. At least he'd given him one as well… The only positive outcome of the whole situation was the he got to stay out of work for a couple of days, needing to get some rest and drink the Potions the doctor had given him, to speed up the recuperation.
The blond walked lazily over to the mini-fridge nailed onto the wall over his bed, grabbing a bottle of cold water from inside. He twisted the cap open and drank half of it in one huge gulp. He glanced down at his boxers and rolled his eyes. He emptied the bottle onto his head…
Ring Ring
The phone. Thankfully, it hadn't woken him up or else he'd be even crankier once getting up. Walking over to the nightstand, he picked up the receiver of the black phone.
- "Yeah?"
- "Seifer? It's Selphie."
As if he'd ever mistake that chirpy voice for anyone else's…
- "Uh-huh…" Seifer mumbled.
- "Don't tell me you just got up… It's almost noon!" Selphie said.
- "Hey, show some respect towards the wounded… Now what did ya want?"
- "Zell's mom wanted to thank us for our work in liberating Balamb and is inviting us all to lunch at her place over at the city. You comin'?" she asked.
- "I dunno… I'm kinda bored…"
- "Did I mention that she's an incredible cook?" Selphie asked meaningfully.
- "What time?"
Seifer made his way into the Parking Lot, where everyone was waiting. Rinoa was holding a pair of keys, twirling it between her fingers.
- "So, we're drivin'?" Seifer asked.
- "Yep. Cid allowed us to take two cars." Irvine replied.
- "We girls are taking the blue one, OK?" Rinoa asked.
- "You're driving?" Seifer asked, grinning.
- "Yeah, why not?" Rinoa asked, arching an eyebrow.
- "Swell… Send me a postcard from the underworld…" Seifer replied, smirking, heading towards the other car, the black one.
- "But I wanna ride with Irvy…" Selphie complained, as the cowboy wrapped his arms around her waist, giving her a peck on the cheek. Seifer creased his forehead.
- "Am I missin' something here?" he asked.
- "Selphie and Irvine are now dating, big surprise…" Zell replied, rolling his eyes.
- "Ride with the girls then." Seifer addressed Irvine "We're taking the other one."
- "I won't have them snogging while I'm driving." Rinoa said "Come on, it's a five minute drive, don't be a baby about it…"
She grabbed Selphie from the wrist and pulled her towards the blue car.
- "Irvyyy…!" Selphie whined, as she got shoved into the car
Irvine sent her a wink and a kiss and gloomily stepped into the car. Seifer rolled his eyes and walked inside as well, sitting onto the driver's seat. Squall walked over to his door and glared at him.
- "I don't think so…" he said, shaking his head.
- "Just gimme the keys, Leonhart." Seifer said, extending his palm over to Squall.
- "You're dangerous behind the wheel." Squall said, narrowing his eyes at him.
- "Bullcrap…" Seifer replied, rolling his eyes. The girls had already driven off.
- "I mean it, Seifer. Go sit on the passenger's seat." Squall said firmly.
- "I won't drive fast-"
- "You're handicapped! Now sit over there!" Squall repeated.
- "Why do I get the feeling this is gonna take a while?" Irvine whispered in Zell's ear.
The girls were helping Ma Dincht out, by laying the table ready. Naturally, they had arrived much earlier and had taken the liberty of visiting the house and introducing themselves, since Rinoa already knew where it was located. No more than ten minutes than they had arrived, the door knocked. Selphie hopped over to the threshold to answer it. She came across Squall, Zell and Irvine.
- "Hey Ma!" Zell exclaimed, walking over to his mother, hugging her.
- "Hey, Seifer!" Irvine called to his back "C'mon! What are you doin'?!"
- "I'M COMING ALREADY!" came Seifer's yell from outside the house.
- "What's he doing?" Rinoa asked, setting a couple of plates onto the table.
Irvine brought his index and middle finger in front of his lips, indicating 'smoking'.
- "He agreed to let Squall drive if he allowed him to." he added.
Rinoa shook her head in disbelief.
- "You already met the girls, Ma?" Zell asked his mother.
- "Oh yes. I knew Rinoa from yesterday." she replied.
- "Well, this is Squall, the other Commander in Garden," Zell said, pointing at Squall, who merely nodded "And this is Irvine, a great sharpshooter from GalbadiaGarden. But he's with us now." Zell added, now pointing at Irvine, who took out his hat and bowed.
- "Nice to meet you boys…" Ma Dincht said, smiling warmly "Where's the other blond boy? Seifer. The really nice one who came yesterday with Rinoa."
Everyone but Zell and Rinoa froze in position.
- "The who?" asked Quistis, arching both eyebrows.
- "Seifer." Ma Dincht repeated "Ah, what a kind and polite boy. I can only wish Zell was like him…" she said jokingly, eyeing her son.
- "Umm… You're talking about a tall, blond one, with a long grey trench coat?" asked Selphie, creasing her eyebrows.
- "Yes, of course… Don't you all know him?" Ma Dincht asked.
- "Erm… No, no, of course we do. We really like him, too." Irvine piped in, grinning awkwardly.
Right on cue, Seifer appeared on the threshold, smirking.
- "Someone miss me?" he asked Zell's mom.
- "Ah, there you are!" Ma Dincht exclaimed.
Seifer walked over to her to shake her hand, but she pulled him into her embrace and kissed him on both cheeks affectionately. Seifer had to literally crouch to be on her level. Everyone stared at the sight awestruck. Selphie began giggling.
- "Oh, this is rich…" she sniggered.
- "Shut up." Zell growled through gritted teeth.
- "Well now…" said Ma Dincht, once she'd let go of Seifer "Why don't you all sit down? Lunch is ready."
- "We'll come help you out." Quistis offered.
- "Sefie, I'm saving you a seat next to me…" Irvine called, making Selphie send him a kiss and walk over to the kitchen.
- "Sheesh, get a grip…" Zell said, rolling his eyes.
- "I can't help it," Irvine said, sitting down on a chair at the far right end of the table "I'm in love…"
- "Yeah, with everything with two legs in a skirt…" Squall mumbled.
He sat down on the same side as Irvine, leaving a spare seat for Selphie. Seifer and Zell sniggered.
- "Oh no. My days of flirting are over. Now I've got Sefie." Irvine replied, grinning.
- "Heh, I'd like to see that…" said Seifer walking over to the other side of the table "I ain't sittin' close to you two anyway…" he added, sitting on one of the two middle chairs on the side across Irvine and Squall.
- "Ditto." said Zell, sitting next to Seifer on the other middle chair. The blonds looked at each other "Well, I'm not sitting next to you either…" he added, moving to the empty seat to the far end.
- "So… How'd it happen with you two anyway?" Seifer asked Irvine.
- "We were at the machine guns together and we were out of ammo." narrated Irvine "So we're watching you guys from the window and when we saw that you beat the last widow, Selphie jumped up going all 'Yay!' and everything and then… she kissed me." he said, grinning.
- "Just like that?" asked Zell.
- "Yeah. We were hugging and all and suddenly she kissed me. And of course, I reciprocated and-" Irvine began.
- "Hey, hey…" piped in Squall "Keep the rest to yourself."
The girls along with Ma Dincht walked inside, carrying platelets with the feast Zell's mom had prepared. They laid them out on the table carefully. Selphie sprinted over to the seat Irvine had saved her and sat down next to him, smiling at him. Faking nonchalance, –and not successfully to be exact- Rinoa walked over to the empty seat next to Squall and sat down next to him. Squall sat up straight and blushed the slightest bit.
- "I think I'll sit next to my boys…" Ma Dincht said jokingly, sitting between Seifer and Zell. Zell rolled his eyes.
Quistis looked at the only seat left empty. She cursed inwardly. The last thing she needed right now was more awkwardness… She walked over to the chair next to Seifer and sat down. The blond shot her a sideways glance and turned his gaze to his front.
- "I hope you're all hungry," said Ma Dincht "I'm not letting you get up from the table unless all the plates are empty."
Everyone took a moment to examine the vast variety of food sprawled all over the table. Salads, all sorts of appetizers, buns and a grand platelet of roast lay in front of them.
- "Ma-" Zell began.
- "I'm not hearing a word." said the woman "After taking one look at the girls I wondered if they've ever eaten in their lives!"
Slight laughter spread all over the table.
- "Well," Quistis said smiling, bringing a forkful of lettuce salad to her lips "We're all fighters here, so we need to be careful not to gain too much weight…"
- "Quistis, honey," Ma Dincht said, looking at the blonde "Trust me when I say this: Men prefer curvy women. All of you are insanely pretty, but you're too scrawny!" she added "When a man decides to sleep with a woman he fancies to grasp some curves…" she finished, winking at her.
Quistis choked on her bite. Seifer, Irvine and Selphie sniggered, Rinoa giggled, covering her mouth with her palms, Squall froze, blushing. Zell's eyes shot side open.
- "MA!" he yelled.
- "What?" Ma Dincht said innocently "I'm just telling the truth…"
- "Oh, I dunno if I agree though Mrs. Dincht…" said Irvine, wrapping his arm around Selphie's shoulder "I think thin women can be just as appealing…" he added, kissing Selphie on the cheek. The brunette beamed.
- "Aw, you two are a couple?" Ma Dincht cooed, smiling.
- "Yes." Selphie replied meekly.
- "Zell, when are you going to bring over a girl for me to meet?" Ma Dincht asked her son.
Zell slapped his forehead with his palm, dragging it down his face.
- "What, your mother's not allowed to meet your girlfriend?" Ma Dincht asked.
- "Oh, I'm quite sure you'll be meeting a certain librarian any time now…" Rinoa mumbled, giggling.
- "RINOA!" Zell snapped, blushing from head to toe.
- "What librarian?" Ma Dincht asked her son immediately "Who is she, Zell? What is she like? What's her name? How long have you been dating? When will you bring her over? Do you love her?"
- "Ma, calm down…" Zell replied wearily "I'm not dating anyone… Just eat…" he added, helping himself to some slices of roast.
- "Fine; I'm not allowed to know anything…" Ma Dincht said, shrugging.
Everyone snorted. Rinoa began cutting her roast, grinning. Zell eyed her poisonously and when she returned his gaze, he moved his index finger to his throat and pulled it away abruptly, as if motioning to cut her throat. Rinoa grinned even wider and returned to her plate.
- "Well," Ma Dincht spoke again. Zell sighed "What about you Seifer, Squall? Do you have girlfriends?" she asked. The two men opened their lips to reply 'No', but she beat them to it "Is Rinoa your girlfriend, Squall? Because you're sitting next to each other and you look so cute together…" she said, smiling.
Rinoa grinned awkwardly, next to a bright crimson Squall. Seifer chuckled.
- "And don't even get me started on you two…" Ma Dincht added, pointing at Seifer and Quistis.
- "Erm, no, no." Quistis hurried to speak "We're not couples…" she said, pointing at her and the other three.
- "Too bad…" Ma Dincht said, shrugging.
- "Ma, will you please stop asking people about personal things? C'mon, eat…" Zell said, sighing.
- "They didn't complain…" she replied matter-of-factly.
- "That's because they're being nice." Zell said, shoveling down his roast.
Ma Dincht rolled their eyes. They all remained silent for a while, eating the exquisite meal Zell's mother had so skillfully prepared. It wasn't long before something caught Ma Dincht's attention. She looked around, creasing her forehead, smelling the air.
- "I think I smell…" she said, frowning "Smoke… Zell, did you start smoking?" she asked her son, austerely.
- "No Ma, I don't smoke." Zell replied, shaking his head.
- "Oh sorry… That's me…" Seifer said, grinning awkwardly.
- "Ah, you shouldn't smoke Seifer… It's really bad for your health." said Ma Dincht.
- "Yeah, I know, but-" Seifer said, grabbing a nearby glass for water.
- "I've heard so many nasty things about smoking…" Ma Dincht interrupted him "Makes the skin look older, causes problems to the heart… Not to mention potential incompetence to men…"
It was Seifer's turn to choke on the gulp of water he'd begun to swallow. Ma Dincht began to pat him on the back firmly.
- "Wouldn't it be a shame for such a handsome young man such as yourself not to be able to-"
- "Ma, don't say it!" Zell hissed, covering his face in his palms.
- "Fine, fine, I'll be quiet…" said Ma Dincht, throwing her hands in the air.
Zell sighed deeply yet again and buried himself in his seat. This lunch couldn't be going any worse…
Seifer lay on the back seat of the car next to Irvine, rubbing his stomach. He closed his eyes and moaned in discomfort.
- "Hyne, I'm full…" he mumbled "I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my entire life…"
- "Zell, your mom is an amazing cook…" Irvine said, feeling drowsy after a huge lunch as well "It's a miracle you don't weigh a ton…"
- "Tell me about it." agreed Zell "That's the reason I began working out in the first place. To burn off all the calories…"
Seifer slipped a hand down his pocket, searching around. When he pulled it out, he was holding a pack of Marlboros. Tilting it upside down, he grabbed his black lighter and one cigarette, resting the latter between his lips. Irvine shot him a sideways glance and grinned.
- "You sure you wanna light that?" he asked "Remember what Zell's mom said…"
Seifer froze in position, holding the lighter in front of his face, a sliver of flame protruding from it. Zell chuckled.
- "Fuck you…" he mumbled and lit his cigarette, not being able to stop feeling uneasy with every drag he took in though.
One week later…
Dr. Kadowaki slowly peeled off the bandages from Seifer's ribs. The blond was standing up in front of her, clad in a pair of jeans, T-shirt lying onto the bed behind him. The doctor put the bandages aside and placed her palms on the sides of his ribs.
- "Now tell me if any of this hurts…" she said, gently pressing her fingers against his skin.
Seifer didn't wince or flinch. He felt no pain at all from the doctor's touch.
- "Nope, nothing… Doesn't hurt at all." he said.
- "Have you taken all the potions I gave you?" Dr. Kadowaki asked, removing her hands from their previous place.
- "Yeah, I took them all. And used a mild Cura every now and then like you told me to." replied the blond.
- "Well, it all looks fine." said the doctor "Just make sure you take it easy with training for a few days. It would be best if you didn't have any-"
- "Not likely…" said Seifer, shaking his head. He grabbed the T-shirt from behind him and pulled it on "I'm already goin' all flabby…"
Dr. Kadowaki took a moment to look what Seifer considered 'flabby', before his still very-well toned torso disappeared under the fabric of the black T-shirt. He noticed the look on her face and frowned.
- "What? I've gained at least two pounds this week!" he protested.
- "I didn't say anything…" the doctor said, throwing her hands on the air.
- "So, are we done?" Seifer asked, running a hand through his fair hair.
- "Yes, you're free to go, Commander." she said, winking at him.
- "Good. See ya around…" said Seifer.
He grabbed his trench coat from the hanger and tossed it over one shoulder, exiting the Infirmary. He made his way down the corridor to the main Hall, receiving salutes from many students that came by his way. He'd almost reached the Directory, when he heard someone calling him. Turning around, he saw Selphie heading towards his way.
- "Hey," she said, once she reached him "Glad I caught up with you. I erm… I needed to ask you something…" she said meekly.
- "Shoot."
- "Well… It's about our next destination…" she began "I was wondering if we could head to Trabia… I'd like to see whatever there's left of T-Garden…"
- "Oh…" Seifer said, arching both eyebrows.
'Well of course she'd like to visit TrabiaGarden…' he thought 'She practically grew up there. She might have even lost many friends from the missile attack… Besides, it'd be good if we checked it out to see if it was damaged heavily. What if it got completely destroyed? Man, I'd hate to see her face that… But still…'
- "Sure." Seifer replied "I'll run the idea over with Squall and get back to you on it, OK?"
- "Great, thanks." Selphie said, smiling somewhat gloomily "I'll see you around then.
- "Yeah, see you around."
The blond took a moment to walk Selphie walk away. Her pace didn't remind him the slightest bit of her usual cheerful disposition. He sighed and turned around, walking up the stairs towards the elevator.
The blond Commander stepped out of the shaft, looking around the Hall casually. Xu emerged from her office immediately after spotting him. Seifer turned around as he heard the door creaking open.
- "You're late… again." Xu said, stressing that last word.
- "Easy Xu…" Seifer said, smirking "I had an appointment with the doc. You can call and ask if you don't believe me…"
- "I will." said Xu, arching an eyebrow, going back into her office.
- "I will…" Seifer repeated her words in a mocking tone, grimacing.
Rolling his eyes, he entered his office, only to find Squall sitting behind his desk, going through a map. The brown-haired boy raised his gaze over at Seifer, scowling.
- "You're-"
- "Late. I know already…" Seifer said exasperated, taking his seat behind his own desk "I was at the Infirmary to get my bandages removed, sheesh…"
- "Fine." came Squall's laconic reply.
- "Oh and I ran into Selphie." Seifer said "She had a request to make, about our destination."
- "How come?" Squall asked, arching an eyebrow.
- "She wants us to head over to Trabia," Seifer said "And take a look at T-Garden. See how much damage was made there."
- "Ah." said Squall, nodding "Makes sense…"
- "We should go. Not just because of Selphie, but to see how they're holdin' up there. We have other exchange students from Trabia as well, right?" Seifer asked.
- "Yeah, yeah, of course. We should go." Squall replied "We'll schedule it with Nida for tomorrow morning."
- "Good, good…." replied Seifer "So this will take what? Two, three days?"
- "I suppose so. More or less…" said Squall.
Squall, Selphie and Seifer walked down the snowy trail leading to Trabia Garden. Their mobile base was stationed next to the forest behind them, about a ten minute walk away from their current position. All three of them were tightly wrapped within their winter coats; the weather in the continent of Trabia was incredibly cold. Seifer felt the icy breeze creep underneath his clothes and freeze his insides to the bone. He shivered.
- "There it is!" Selphie exclaimed, breaking into a run.
The two Commanders watched the miniscule girl sprint down to the gates visible from afar. Her thick, furry boots disappeared under the snow, which almost reached her ankles, wetting the bottom of her blue jeans. The two men gave each other a look and ran after her.
She had stopped before a fence, touching it with her gloved palms, looking up, a worried expression on her face.
Squall crossed his arms and creased his forehead, looking at the ruined building in front of them. The glossy, golden ring that hovered above all garden, spinning, was now wrecked, tainted with grayish-black soot and dangling from the roof of the Garden. The walls were either blackened to the core as well or bore huge holes on them. An eerie silence lingered in the atmosphere; not a single whisper could be heard, much in contrast with the lively murmur that surrounded Balamb Garden with every passing day. Selphie's lips parted and her irises dilated.
- "Looks pretty bad…" Squall commented.
Seifer shot him a cold glare, making him slap himself mentally for his lack of tact.
- "A direct… hit?" Selphie mumbled, looking down dejectedly "I'm going in." she said after a small pause, beginning to climb the fence before her.
- "Be careful, OK?" Seifer called to her.
The girl swiftly reached the top of the fence, hopping down to the other side. She looked around, the broke into a run down the path in front of her.
- "Squall! Seifer!"
Both turned around, watching Rinoa, Quistis, Irvine and Zell approach them from the distance, all dressed up warmly in thick coats like them.
Rinoa walked over first, looking worried.
- "Where's Selphie?" she asked.
- "She ran off ahead." Squall replied.
- "Well, c'mon, let's go after her!" Irvine said, walking over to the fence.
The six friends walked down the broken stone path, looking around the remnant of what once was Trabia Garden. They were more than relieved to find students still alive and roaming around. Seifer studied the expressions on their faces. They all shared the same one. They tried to look hopeful and struggled to piece their Academy back together again, but desperation and stress could be found hidden behind their masks of optimism. He could read it in their eyes…
- "Selphie!" Irvine exclaimed, running ahead.
Seifer see their friend standing a few feet away from them, talking to another girl. Probably an old friend. The young cowboy rushed over to her side.
- "Hey… We were worried about you, you know…" he said softly, resting his hand on her shoulder.
Selphie smiled poignantly and walked into his embrace. She turned and looked back at her friend.
- "Emma, this is Irvine." she said.
- "Nice to meet you." replied the girl, shaking Irvine's free hand.
- "Likewise." Irvine said, smiling.
The rest slowly approached them, glancing around uncomfortably. They couldn't face any of those kids straight in the eye. Sometimes it felt best for one's conscience to try and deny the obvious by avoiding it.
- "And these are all my friends." Selphie added, pointing at all of them.
Emma waved at them, receiving nods and warm smiled back.
- "There should be a basketball court in the back. Wait for me there, OK?" said Selphie, letting go of Irvine "I want to go catch up with my friends."
- "OK sweetie. See you in a bit." replied Irvine, giving her a peck on the lips, rubbing her cheek affectionately.
Seifer stepped over to the basketball court last. Everyone was already waiting there, expressionless. He made his way over to a big stone at the far corner of the court, sitting down. No-one spoke. They all seemed to be lost within their own thoughts. Seifer wasn't aware of how much time had gone by, before Squall spoke.
- "We're leaving as soon as Selphie comes back. We're on standby 'till then." he said blankly, glancing over at Seifer.
The blond nodded, not uttering a word.
He sighed. All this damage had been inflicted on Trabia Garden by a mere order of the Sorceress. If they hadn't stopped the missiles on their way to Balamb, this could have easily been them as well. Some of them could be dead or handicapped, living among ruins like these, trying to get their lives back on track. And all because of the Sorceress.
His thoughts trailed at both the close encounters he'd experienced with her. For some reason, that woman had an overwhelming power over him that didn't seem to affect any of the others. And she'd chosen to speak to him only for some reason. She'd chosen him as her potential Knight.
He shuddered at the thought of what things would be like, had he joined her. Could it have been him to torture his peers to death back in prison? Could he have killed any of his friends? Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, Selphie, Zell… Quistis. Could it have been him by Edea's side while she ordered the bombing of both Gardens? He quickly pushed those thoughts away. It didn't do him any good to think like that. Thinking of what would be possible if he'd made a different choice could easily drive him insane.
He snapped his head up as an orange ball rolled into the court and Selphie appeared.
- "Sorry to keep you waiting!" she said, trying to catch her breath "Thanks so much for coming all the way out here, everyone."
- "Cheer up, eh?" Irvine said, holding her hand.
- "Thanks." Selphie replied, smiling "Take me with you when you fight the sorceress, OK? I wanna get even. I want my revenge!" she said, her voice suddenly firm and filled with rage.
- "Umm…" Rinoa piped in "Do we… have to fight? Isn't there another way? Y'know, to avoid any bloodshed?" she asked hopefully, although she already knew the answer.
- "Yo! What the…?!" Zell snapped "What are you sayin' all of a sudden?!"
- "Maybe someone really smart can come up with a way, so we wouldn't have to fight anymore…" Rinoa added, looking down at her feet.
- "You know that can't be done, Rinoa…" Seifer said, shaking his head in disbelief.
- "You were… part of a resistance movement in Timber, right?" Squall spoke "Unlike others who are all talk, you took to your weapon and fought… And now you're saying all this? What happened to you?" he asked, frowning.
- "I guess… I'm getting scared." she replied, shrugging "Sometimes… when I'm with all of you… I… feel like we're on the same wavelength…you know? But when the battles start happening, it's different. Everyone's tempo seems to pick up and… I get left behind. I try to catch up, but it's no use… How far is everyone going? I can't hear anyone…Once I catch up, I wonder… Is everyone safe? Will they welcome me with open arms…? Is everyone OK? Will we all make it back together? When I start thinking like that-"
- "Rinoa, I understand." Irvine cut her off "Someone might not be there. Someone you love may disappear before your very eyes. It's tough when you live your life thinking that way. But that's why I fight…"
The cowboy walked over to the ball and picked it up.
- "When I was a little kid… I was about four or so… I was in an orphanage." he said, shooting the ball to the basket..
- "I didn't know you were an orphan, Irvine…" Quistis spoke.
- "Yup… But I wasn't alone there…" he said "Plenty of kids…All with no parents… It was around the end of the Sorceress War, so I guess it couldn't be helped. Anyway, that's where I was. And out of all the kids there, once was very special to me" he added.
His melancholic gaze shifted over to Selphie. The brunette looked at him, eyes narrowing, lips parting.
- "I really liked this girl, and it made me so happy just talking to her." Irvine went on, looking away.
- "Was that orphanage… a stone house?" Selphie asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Irvine smiled at her warmly.
- "You guessed it…" he replied, grinning.
- "An old house made of stone? By the ocean?" Quistis piped in, her expression similar to Selphie's.
- "You guessed it… I knew right away, when we first met!" Irvine exclaimed.
- "Whoa, whoa…" Seifer spoke, walking over to them "I thought you said you had parents…" he addressed Quistis.
- "Yes…" she replied, falling deep in thought "I guess… I guess they adopted me from the orphanage… There's no other explanation.
- "Why didn't you tell us?!" Selphie asked Irvine.
- "Cause you two seemed to have forgotten!" Irvine replied "It just kinda sucked that I was the only one who remembered… Spunky little Sefie and bossy little Quisty…"
- "This is just soooo weird…" Selphie said, looking around dazed.
- "It wasn't just us three though…" Irvine said, looking around at the others meaningfully.
Seifer stepped back running a hand through his hair.
- "Holy shit…" he whispered "Except for Rinoa, we were all there…"
- "That's right…" Irvine replied.
Squall noticed Rinoa looking around awkwardly, obviously feeling left out at this conversation. But he couldn't worry about her now. His mind was about to explode with all the memories that came rushing within his seemingly blank page of a mind so far. Flashes of images danced before his eyes. The orphanage, the lighthouse, his friends, Seifer, Zell, Irvine, Quistis, Selphie… And…
- "Wait…" Squall spoke for the first time "It wasn't just us… I… I remember this girl… She was older than all of us…"
- "Elle." Irvine said.
- "Elle…" Squall replied "Sis Elle… Ellone…"
- "E-Ellone?" Zell stammered "The Ellone?! The one who's taking us to Laguna's past?" he asked, bewildered.
- "Yes…" Squall replied "She said she wanted to change the past. I don't know why…"
- "There can only be one reason for that." Quistis said matter-of-factly.
- "She must not be happy with the present." Selphie added.
- "If that's the case, I'm definitely up for helpin' her!" Zell said firmly "She's part of our orphanage gang!"
- "You didn't even remember who she was!" Selphie told him, grinning.
- "Hey, Selphie…" Irvine addressed his girlfriend "That goes for you, too…"
The girl grinned awkwardly and rubbed the back of her hair.
- "Y'know…" Irvine spoke again "Everyone was fond of Sis, but you, Squall, you kept hoggin' her for yourself."
- "You sure have a good memory…" Squall admitted.
- "Just like Seifer did with Matron." Irvine added, eyeing the blond.
Seifer snapped his head up and looked at him.
- "Matron…" he whispered.
- "Matron? Who was Matron?" asked Selphie.
- "The woman who took care of us…" Seifer said, staring blankly at nowhere in particular "Long black hair… Dressed in black…"
- "The woman you told me about…" Quistis addressed him.
Seifer looked at her, nodding. Then looked away again.
- "This is really strange." Squall said "I don't think I was adopted because of the way I am…"
- "Heh…" Seifer scoffed sarcastically "Ditto… I think I got in Garden when I was five or so…"
- "But none of you ever mentioned anything…" Quistis said.
- "Yes, it's really odd… Nothing ever crossed my mind when I saw you, Seifer or Zell in Garden…" Squall replied.
- "That IS strange…" Selphie agreed "In my case, I had loads and loads of fun after going to Trabia. That's probably why I forgot about my childhood. That's what I think. But I don't know what's up with you guys! It's so odd that you would forget!"
- "I… remember." said Quistis "Yes, I remember now. Things didn't work out at my new home. So I left for Garden… That was when I first noticed Seifer and Squall. They were always fighting."
- "Yeah… Quistis always used to break us up." Squall replied "But… Why is it that we forgot? We grew up together as kids… How's that possible…?"
- "How about this?" Irvine spoke "The price we pay for using the GF. The GF provides us its power. But the GF makes its own place inside our brain…"
- "So you're saying that the area is where our memories are stored?" Quistis asked, frowning "No! That's just a rumor the GF critics are spreading." she added, not wanting to believe it could be true.
- "So if we keep relying on the GF, we won't be able to remember a lot of things?" Zell asked worriedly.
- "There's no way Headmaster Cid would allow such a dangerous thing!" Quistis protested.
- "Then how is it that I remember, while everyone else has forgotten?" Irvine asked her "Well…? In my case, I hadn't junctioned a GF until recently. That's why I remember a lot more than you guys."
- "How about you, Selphie?" Quistis asked her friend, needing someone to back up her beliefs "Your first experience with the GF was when you came to BalambGarden, right?"
The miniscule girl grinned awkwardly.
- "Not really…" she replied "I have a confession to make… When I was twelve, I went on an outdoor training session. I found a GF inside one of the monsters I defeated… I junctioned that GF for a while. So I have experience with GF, too. But… but, it's really weird! I can't remember the name of that GF!"
- "Then it must be the GF's fault…" Quistis said, accepting defeat "What should we do?"
- "What should we do? Nothing." Squall said, shrugging.
- "What do you mean 'Nothing'?!" Zell protested.
- "So what do you want to do?" Squall asked him, crossing his arms "You wanna stop using GF now? As long as we continue fighting, we're indebted to the powers of the GF. If there's a price I have to pay for that, I'll gladly pay it." he admitted bluntly.
- "Heeey, I know!" Selphie exclaimed "Let's all keep a diary! That way we'll always have something to remind us!" she suggested.
- "Are you sure that's what you want?" Zell asked her "Maybe… that's for the best. Yeah… I don't care if I forget about my childhood; it wasn't a very good one anyway "What's important to me now is having the power to protect my parents in Balamb. They adopted me. And they were great to me. There's no way I'm lettin' go of that power!"
Quistis sighed and turned her gaze over at Seifer. He'd become very quiet all of a sudden and it struck her that he hadn't said a word for quite some time.
- "Seifer…?" she called him.
He slowly looked up at her.
- "Why so quiet all of a sudden?" she asked him.
- "I just remembered something…" he said, his eyes cold and distant.
- "What?" asked Selphie.
- "You said you all remember Matron, right?" he asked them. They all nodded "Does anyone remember her name?" he asked them meaningfully.
It took quite some time for what he'd just asked to sink in. He was certain everyone knew what he was talking about by their expressions. Selphie clamped her mouth with both palms.
- "No!" she said "It can't be! No way!"
- "Yes way." Seifer replied, looking away "Edea Kramer…"
Seifer had long ago stopped listening to what the others were discussing. He couldn't get the picture of Matron out of his head.
Edea…
The woman he cherished like a true mother… The woman who tried to bring him over to her side… Their bond…
And their mission was to exterminate her…
- "But… somehow, we're together again. Just like old times, though a lot's changed." Irvine spoke "We're not kids anymore…We're strong enough to take care of ourselves. Make our own decisions…We're confronting a big one right now. Do we fight Matron or not…? I say we fight… Shoot for a common goal…Hey, at least it'll keep us together a little longer."
- "Yeah. Let's do it. We can't run from her the rest of our lives." agreed Zell.
- "It's just such a bummer…" mumbled Selphie "I can't believe we have to fight Matron."
- "I know… But Zell's right. We can't run from her forever." spoke Quistis.
- "Rinoa… We're gonna fight… I think it's the only way we can move on with our lives. If that makes any sense at all, come with us. I'm sure that's what everybody wants." said Squall.
Seifer, who had been leaning against a wall, remaining silent all this time, finally scoffed audibly. All heads turned towards his direction.
- "What everybody wants?" Seifer said, addressing Squall, eyes narrowed.
- "You didn't speak. I presumed you agreed with us all…" Squall said innocently "Don't you?"
- "Of course I don't! What the hell's the matter with you?!" Seifer snapped, sounding offended that Squall even dared to assume he did. He shook his head in disbelief "You all disgust me…"
Six pairs of eyes widened at his accusative tone. The tall blond stood up in full height and eyed each and every one of them with disdain.
- "Do you even realize what you're saying?!" he growled "How could you ever kill Matron?!"
- "Seifer, it's the only-" Irvine began.
- "No fucking way!" hissed Seifer "I am not killing the only woman I ever considered a mother, you hear me?!" he shouted, pointing a threatening finger at them "I don't fucking care if your heroes of parents were forced to give you up because of death or whatever shit during the War, but mine didn't. I don't even bother to call those two sons-of-bitches 'parents' because all they ever were to me was a fucking sperm donor and a bitch to unwillingly carry me in her womb. They were fucking assholes and the best thing they ever did for me was dying! Because that's when I met my only real mother!" he yelled, his voice wavering "So don't you fucking dare ask me to aid in her extermination! I will not be a part of this! You can count me out of your fucking schemes!" he screamed and stormed away.
All of them stood shocked at his outburst, and didn't speak for a fair few minutes. Selphie stifled a sob and choking, covered her face in both palms, turning away. Irvine stepped over to her side, resting a comforting palm on her shoulder. Quistis sighed and began walking away.
- "I'll talk to him." she said softly, and made her way out of the court.
- "Quistis…?"
The blonde turned around and looked at Squall who's called her.
- "We need him." he muttered sadly.
Quistis sighed and nodded.
- "I know. I'll try to make him come around." she said and turned her heel.
Rage ran through Seifer's veins as he stormed down the path towards the exit of T-Garden, roughly pushing away anyone who came across his path 'I can't believe them all… How could they ever even consider killing Matron? She's not evil; she can't be…' the young man thought. His thoughts traveled to the few memories, now rushing into his mind in fast forward.
It was almost painful.
Sad, melancholic autumns, spent inside the walls of the orphanage, with cocoa and endless fairytale stories from Edea. Stormy nights when he'd run to her, scared, ending up sleeping by her side, wrapped in her loving arms.
Cold, snowy winters, with New Year's decorations or snowball fights and Matron's oven-warm cookies as a treat once they gathered back inside.
- "Seifer!"
The tall blond turned around sharply, only to find Quistis running after him, calling out his name. He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. Even she had agreed to this. Only Selphie seemed to have some kind of remorse for what they were planning to do, but she'd been convinced by the others eventually as well.
Refreshing springs with the first swims in the sea, which almost always resulted in early spring colds. Matron scolding him for not listening to her once again, but then pampering him back to health with motherly concern and delicate care when he turned up with fever and coughing.
Traitors.
All of them.
Warm, breezy summers spent out in the beach, Cid playing in the water with them and Edea watching from the shore, smiling and content. He would always run out to her first, so that she'd wrap him around in a huge towel and rake her fingers in his short, wet, straw-blond spikes.
And he wasn't willing to speak to, or even face them right now.
Not even her.
- "Seifer, wait!" Quistis called again.
The blond ignored her cries and sprinted over to the wire fence, climbing up with ease. He hopped down onto the snowy fields of Bika, Trabia and began to make his way back to Garden in long, sharp strides. He should be there in less than ten minutes…
Quistis stopped before the fence to catch her breath for a moment. Not losing another single second, she grasped the fence and began climbing up. She spotted Seifer many feet away and quickly jumped down, running after him.
- "Seifer, stop! Wait! Will you please just hear me out?!"
- "HEAR WHAT?!"
Quistis stopped dead in her tracks by Seifer's booming voice. He'd finally turned around to face her, his features creased into a deadly frown.
He'd turn to her like Squall did to Ellone, hope in his eyes, asking her if he was her 'little boy', always receiving a warm smile and a hug in response.
- "Hear what, huh?!" Seifer repeated, advancing on her "How Squally-boy sent you over to convince me kill to Edea?"
- "No-one sent me. I-" began Quistis.
- "Oh, you ran all the way here on your own decision? How sweet!" Seifer said, his voice dripping with sarcasm "Were you worried about me?"
- "Everyone is." Quistis spoke seriously "We don't like this either Seifer, but-"
- "But still, you easily decide to finish off the only woman we can come close to calling a 'mother' after a fucking one-minute discussion about your deeply hurt feelings on this." he retorted, holding his chest in mock-hurt.
- "She may once have been our Matron and believe me," Quistis pleaded, walking closer to him "I wouldn't even think of bringing myself to this position if it weren't for the circumstances. She's not the woman we all once loved anymore." she spoke, a sad smile on her face "She has killed many and won't hesitate to do it again… You must understand this, Seifer…"
His sweet, loving Matron.
Quistis approached him and took his hands in hers. She rubbed them for warmth, as Seifer bowed his downcast face to the ground, remaining silent.
His mother…
- "No." he said suddenly, voice deep and gruff.
He pulled his hands away from Quistis's grip and looked up at her, once again furious.
- "NO!" he yelled "She is NOT evil! I don't believe it!" he insisted "There must be another way out of this! We can talk to her! Help her remember! Maybe she lost her memories from Guardian Forces as well! Like we did! We'll talk to her!" he went on, almost going delirious.
Quistis looked at him, going into a fit almost in tears. It killed her to watch him torture himself in denial like that. She approached him once again and took his face into her gloved palms, shaking her head in dissent.
- "We can't…" she almost whispered.
- "You don't understand…" Seifer choked "None of you does… I was hoping you would, but-"
- "I do." she insisted, turning his face to look at her "I do understand how much this hurts you. But we're left with no choice. It's either her or the world. Please…" she pleaded, her voice wavering "We need you… The Garden needs you." she begged 'I need you…'
- "The Garden needs no-one but Squall."
Seifer backed away from her once more. It began to snow…
- "He's the only Commander that Garden needs, and the only one Garden should have." he said, full of bitterness, eyes narrowed and hateful.
- "What are you talking about?" Quistis said "You're both Commanders. You're both essential to-"
- "Do you know what people see when they look at Squall?" Seifer interrupted her "They see a leader. They see someone they can trust. I've noticed the way the gaze at him. They all admire him, they all look up to him. They all want to be him. Do you know what they see when they look at me?" he asked "They see a guy who was lucky enough to be in Squall's 'hero team' and managed to 'steal' some of that glory away. They see a guy who was made a Commander so that he wouldn't bitch about it when Squall was once again praised. I might be a good fighter, but I'll never be someone people look up to. I'll never be him. No matter what I do or say. Never. He was the one leading the mission to Timber unanimously. He was the one leading the mission in Deling. He was the one to go for Edea while I helplessly choked and squirmed on the ground like a fucking idiot. It's always him. It's always been him."
- "That's not true…" Quistis insisted.
- "Oh yeah? Name one person who treated me and Squall as equals. One person who actually saw something when bothering to place an eye upon me." Seifer retorted.
An awkward pause.
Silence.
- "I did." Quistis said eventually.
Seifer's lips parted slightly as he looked deep into her eyes. He saw pity in her cerulean gaze. He didn't want it. He despised it.
He turned away.
A palm touched his shoulder tenderly.
- "Don't." he said coldly "Just… Don't."
He left.
A/N: Just to avoid any misunderstandings, by 'He left', I meant that he went back to Garden, mmmkay?
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'A SECOND CHANCE':
BalambGarden encounters GalbadiaGarden…